70.42.150  <<  70.42.155 >>   70.42.157

PDFRCW 70.42.155

Limited stop services.

(1) The department may prohibit a specific category or categories of services within the medical test site as related to noncompliance with the requirements of this chapter or the standards or rules adopted under this chapter by imposing a limited stop service. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy.
(2) Prior to imposing a limited stop service, the department shall provide the medical test site a written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The medical test site shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the limited stop service.
(3) When the department imposes a limited stop service, the medical test site may not perform any new testing in the category or categories subject to the limited stop service until the limited stop service is terminated.
(4) The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the medical test site if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected.
(5) The limited stop service shall be terminated when:
(a) The department verifies the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected or the department determines that the medical test site has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and
(b) The medical test site establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.
(6) Except as otherwise provided, RCW 43.70.115 governs notice of actions taken by the department under subsection (1) of this section and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding. Adjudicative proceedings and hearings under this section are governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The application for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the adverse action, include a copy of the department's notice, be served on and received by the department within 28 days of the medical test site's receipt of the adverse notice, and be served in a manner that shows proof of receipt.
(7) When the department determines a licensee's noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy, the department may make the imposition of conditions on a licensee, a limited stop service, or the suspension of a license effective immediately upon receipt of the notice by the licensee, pending any adjudicative proceeding.
(a) When the department makes the suspension of a license or imposition of conditions on a license effective immediately, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not there is an immediate jeopardy.
(b) At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate suspension or imposition of conditions.
(c) If the presiding officer determines there is no immediate jeopardy, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions.
(d) If the presiding officer determines there is immediate jeopardy, the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
(e) If the presiding officer sustains the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.
(8) When the department determines an alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the licensee fails to cooperate with the department's investigation of such an alleged violation, the department may impose an immediate limited stop service, immediate suspension, or immediate imposition of conditions.
(a) When the department imposes an immediate limited stop service, immediate suspension, or immediate imposition of conditions for failure to cooperate, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of an immediate limited stop service, immediate suspension, or immediate imposition of conditions for failure to cooperate. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not the alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation.
(b) At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate limited stop service, immediate suspension, or immediate imposition of conditions for failure to cooperate, and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate action for failure to cooperate.
(c) If the presiding officer determines the alleged violation, if true, does not constitute an immediate jeopardy or determines that the licensee cooperated with the department's investigation, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate action for failure to cooperate.
(d) If the presiding officer determines the allegation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation, the immediate action for failure to cooperate shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
(e) If the presiding officer sustains the immediate action for failure to cooperate, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.
[ 2024 c 121 s 7.]